Using the razor on the face would be a sine qua non. I doubt that any barbers use safety razors in administering shaves.
The barbershop I go to is evidently run by a older man and woman who I assume are husband and wife, but they are both licensed barbers. The woman cut my hair the first time, and sure enough she got out the razor at the end. This isn’t one of those really old places like you might find downtown on the street level of a fine old office building. The overall impression on entering the shop is rather bland except for the bright blue smocks they put on you. When all the chairs are full, the row of blue smocks makes for an interesting visual effect. All in all it’s a pleasant experience going there.
Incidentally, as I was leaving the shop yesterday I noticed graffiti from the year 1943 in the sidewalk outside. That’s the second-oldest I’ve seen yet.
The barbers where I go don’t speak English too well, so inane chatter isn’t much of a problem. I just close my eyes and listen to the TV, which, so far on my visits, has been tuned to either the news or a baseball game. On the other hand, I did once have a male hairstylist years ago who was always interesting to talk to, inasmuch as he was well informed and articulate. There was always something interesting that he and his family were up to. Come to think of it, he was a licensed barber also, but he never did use the razor on me.
Yep. But I’ve literally been going to the same Filipino barber for 30 years and he wasn’t a spring chicken when I started. I cut my hair on a very long schedule, no regular trims ( I go from short to long and back to short ) and I’m always pleasantly surprised he’s still around every time I see him these days. In addition to a straight razor ( even out side burns and shaving the back of the neck ), he finishes with the electric shoulder massage.
I’ve been using the same traditional-type barber for 12-ish years. Their shop isn’t explicitly old timey, more just typical workin’ class from the 70s.
He always does sideburns and neck with a straight razor. Once I asked about a complete face shave. He said he hadn’t done one in so many years that me getting cut was a certainty. So we both passed on that idea.
My barber goes all the way around the back from temple to temple with hot lather and a straight blade. It’s a little nails-on-a-chalkboard over my ears, but totally worth it. One of these days I’ll spring for a full shave.
Strops are a functionally specific type of straps (though as verbs, “stropping” is totally different than “strapping”), and etymologically they are basically the same word.
I’ve been going to a traditional barber now for 15 years - I’m a guy and I agree with the OP’s premise - I just get a better haircut with a barber. In that time 2 different people have cut my hair and both finish by shaving my neck with a straight razor and hot towel. I love it - and the more I talk to people the more I realize this isn’t an uncommon event.
